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LOU w APPLICATION FILE AY18,1908. 921,711.

Patented May 18; 1909.

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T. B. JEFFERY.

LOGK.

APPLIQATION FILED MAY 18, 190B.

Patented May 18, 1909.

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A? RM M; at 4 to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, which form a part of this specincation.

My invention relates to latch devices for securing together tworelatively movable members as, for example, the door and frame t of anautomobile and it has for its object to improve such devices.

It is desirable, in automobiles, to have a latching devicefor the doorwhich may be manipulated conveniently both in opening l and closing thedoor, which will lock the door securely in its closed position without lpermitting the door to rattle, and which is not apt to be jarred looseso as to permit the l door to swing open. j In one of its aspects thepresent invention may be regarded as comprising a novel j latchingdevice which may be readily manipulated to unlatch and which willautomatj ically assume the latching position upon the closing of thedoor or the like with which it t is associated and which will form adouble look so that a door may be rigidly locked in its closed positionunder normal conditions and be securely held even if one of the locksshould become injured.

In a further aspect the invention may be regarded as comprising a novelform of latching device which will automatically lock two parts togetherwhen they are brought into predetermined positions and which will afforda manually actuated lock j if the automatic device should becomederanged.

In further of its aspects the present invention may be regarded ascomprising novel features of construction and arrangement of parts whichcooperate to form a simple, durable and eflective latching device.

The various features of novelty which characterize the present inventionwill be pointed out with particularity in the appended claims, but for afull understanding of my invention in its various aspects and jSpecification of Letters Patent. Application filed May 18, 1908. SerialNo. 433,424.

others skilled in the art to which it pertains UNITED STATES AJIENTFFICE.

LocK.

Patented May 18, 1909.

of its object and advantages, reference is to be had to the followingdetailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,wherein z- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a fragment of an automobiledoor and frame showing a preferred form of latching device in thecondition to permit the door to be closed; Fig. 2 is a front elevationof the parts shown in Fig. 1, the door being closed and the latchingdevice being in the condition to which the closing of the door bringsit; Fig. 3 a section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2; ig. at is a sectiontaken on line as of Fig. 3; Figs. 5 andG are sections taken on line 55of Fig. at, Fig. 5 showing the condition just before the door iscompletely closed, and Fig. 6 showing the positions which the parts takeas soon as the door is completely closed, and Fig. 7 is a side elevationof the parts of the latch carried by the door frame, viewing the samefrom the right of Fig. a.

Broadly speaking, my invention consists of a two-part latch device eachof which is adapted to be secured to one of two movable members which itis adapted to secure in place and each of which includes a catch whichis adapted to enter into locking engagement with a shoulder on the otherpart so that a double latching is obtained. One of the catches ispreferably made springactuated and there is associated with the othercatch a dog of some kind which lies in the path of the spring-actuatedcatch so that when the two members are brought into the relativeposition which they are to occupy when locked together, thespring-actuated catch automatically assumes its locking position and atthe same time engages with the dog so as to throw the other catch intoits locking position. The dog and the catch which it actuates arepreferably associated with one or more handles so that upon moving oneof the handles the latter catch is moved out of its locking position andthe dog is actuated so as to effect the release of the other catch. Itwill be seen that these various features may be constructed and arrangedin many different ways in order to aroduce the results desired. For thesake of simplicity I have illustrated, however, only one constructionand arrangement of parts, namely, one which I regard as extremely simpleand practical; but I do not desire to be understood to the singlepreferred invention illustrated.

Referring to the drawings, A and B represent two relatively movablemembers as, for example, the swinging door and the door frame of anautomobile. Mounted at the free edge of the door is a bracket C whichmay conveniently consist of a plate-like member 0 fastened to the outerface of the door and a portion c extending at an angle tothe member aand lying fiush with the edge of the door, thewidth of the member 0being approximately equal to the thickness of the door. The member 0 ispro vided with an opening 0 which is adapted to receive a catch to behereinafter described.

0 is a boss or hub projecting inwardly from the plate 0 and forming abearing and support fora revoluble shaft D which extends through thedoor. On the outer end of the shaft is a handled. The inner portion ofthe shaft may conveniently be made square as at (Z for the purpose ofreceiving a sleeve E and a sleeve or hub (Z on the end of the handle (Zarranged upon the inner side of the door. The members E and (Z are madeof such lengths that when they are slipped in place upon the shaft (Z orother fastening means is placed upon the shaft, axial movement of theshaft with in its supporting bearing is prevented through the engagementof the handle (Z on one side of the bearing and the sleeve E on theother side. On the outer end of the shaft, and preferably between themain portion of the handled and the door, is a hooklike catch F which isadapted to interlock with a fixed portion or shoulder upon the framewhen the door is closed. Secured to the sleeve E is a downwardlyprojecting dog 6 which is free to swing into and out of the opening 0 inthe bracket 0 when the shaft is rotated. I

Mounted upon the edge of the door frame at the same level as the bracket0 is a bracket G whichmay conveniently consist of a platelikeportion gsecured to the outer surface of the frame and a portion 9 extending atan angle to the member g and lying flush with the edge of the doorframe. Upon this is pivoted a catch H, the pivot h thereof beingillustrated as a vertical one. This catch is arranged within a slotwhich, when the door is closed, registers with the slot 0 in the edge ofthe door.

7L is aspring which tends to throw the catch outwardly so as to lie inthe path of theedge of the door when the door is being closed. hen thedoor is moved to its closed position it will be seen that thespring-actuated catch is engaged by the edge thereof and is forcedrearwardly toward the tension of its spring until, just as the doorembodiment of my as limiting myself i and the nut catch is released andimmediately springs outwardly and enters the slot 0 in the edge of thedoor. As long as the catch occupies this position the door is preventedfrom being opened. In order that a strong spring may be used andmaintained under tension even when the door is open I prefer to providelugs it on the catch H which, when the catch occupies its normalposition engage with the rear face of the part 9 of the bracket andlimit the outward movement of the catch. When it is desired to unlockthe door, either the handle (Z or the handle (Z may begrasped and theshaft rotated thereby. This rotation of the shaft swings the dog 6outwardly toward the edge of the door and into engagement with thespring catch. The arts are so proportioned that the dog is enabled topush the catch entirely out of the slot in the edge of the door beforethe dog is brought to rest by striking against a portion of itssupporting bracket. After the shaft has been turned sufiiciently tocarry the s Wing-actuated catch into its inoperative position thedoorway may be pushed outwardly.

On the front of the bracket G is a projec tion or nose I having thereina hole 2' for receiving the hook F when the door is closed. The bracketC may be provided with an extension C having an opening 0 therein ofsuch size and shape and so located that when the door is closed theprojection I enters the opening 0 and forms a positive guide foraccurately positioning the door in the frame. The member C is preferablyplaced between the catchF and the door so that when the door is closedand the catch in engagement with the opening in the projection. I it ineffect forms a pin for retaining the member C in place. The parts arepreferably so arranged that when the hook-like catch is swung downwardlyit bears against the front face of the member C and therefore any strainis transmitted to the door through the member C instead of through thesupport-- ing arm of the catch.

I have heretofore referred to the automatic latching of the door uponclosure thereof by reason of the engagement of the catch H with thewalls surrounding the socket c in the edge of the door. .As thespring-actuated catch assumes this latching position, however, itengages with the dog 6 and of course moves it in the reverse directionfrom that which the dog traveled in swinging the catch out of engagementwith the door. T he parts are so proportioned thatthis movement of thedog by the catch is sufficient to throw the hooklike catch on the doorinto the position indicated in F 2, namely, so as to extend well into oreven through the opening in the projection I on the frame.Consequentlythe door is latched assumes its completely closed position,the by two separate devices, namely, the spring- "he hook-like membercarried by the door. "t will be seen that even if the spring-actuitedcatch should become inoperative for any reason the door could besecurely latched in place manually by turning one of the handles untilthe cat h on the door was brought into operative relation with thecooperating member on the frame. Ordinarily, however, no attention needbe given to the latching of the door since this will be effectedautomatically and positively upon the mere closing of the door; and, byslightly curving the free end of the book-like catch so as to cause itto slightly bind in the opening which re ceives it, a very secure lockis produced, rattling is prevented and there is no danger of unlatchingdue to jarring where the device is used upon an automobile whi h maytravel at a high speed over rough roads.

I prefer to provide some means to prevent the latch F from swingingdownwardly too far when the door is opened, since otherwise the latchmight be found to be entirely below the projection I on the frame afterthe door is closed, This may be accomplished in any suitable manner, as,for eX- ample, by providing a lug on the side of the latch in a positionto rest upon the upper edge of the member C when the latch is in itslowermost position. Therefore if the latch on the door is not entirelyraised before it is attempted to close the door all that can happen isthat the catch will strike the end of the projection on the frame andprevent the closing of the door and the operator can readily turn one ofthe handles so as to bring the latch into the position indicated in Fig.1.

It will now be seen that I have provided an extremely simple andeffective latching device and one which can be readily placed inposition because all of the parts are carried by two brackets one ofwhich is secured to the door and. one to the frame. it is only necessarytherefore to properly aline the two brackets, no attention beingrequired for procuring the various parts of each half of the device. Ifit is desired to cut entirely through the door as shown, a plate K maybe fastened over the opening on the inner side of the door; but thisplate need not perform any function as a support for the parts of thelatch and the shaft and the sleeves mounted thereon preferably passfreely through this plate: therefore the plate does notinterfere withthe ready adjustment of the parts of the latch carried by the door.

Although I have described in detail only a single preferred embodimentof my invention I do not desire to be limited to this particularembodiment since, as I have already stated, my invention may take manyother forms as will be evident from the terms of ictuated member carriedby the frame and the proper adjustment of the definitions of myinvention which constitute the appended claims.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent is 1. in combination, a pair ofrelativelymovable members, a catch on each member for engaging with theother member to lock said members together, one of said catches beingarranged to be actuated by the other catch, and m ans for actuating thelatter catch.

2. In combination, a pair of relativelymovable members, a catch on eachmember for engaging with the other member so as to lock said memberstogether when they occupy a predetermined relative position, one of saidratches being arranged to be actuated by the other catch, and means forantomatically actuating the latter catch when positions.

23. T11 combination, a pair of relativelymovable members, aspring-actuated catch on one member adapted to engage with the secondmember so as to lock said members together when they occupypredetermined relative positions, the parts being so arranged that thecatch is retracted and its spring placed under tension as said membersapproach and before they reach said predetermined positions, a-secondcatch on said second member adapted to engage with the other member toassist the spring-actuated catch in locking said members together, and apart secured to said second catch and lying in the path of thespring-actuated catch so as to be engaged thereby and actuated when saidspring-actuated catch assumes its locking position.

4. In combination, a pair of relatively movable members, aspring-actuated catch on one member arranged to ride over a shoulder onthe second member as said members approach a predetermined relativeposition and to drop behind said shoulder when said position is reached,a catch on said second member for engaging with the other member, and adog secured to the latter catch and lying in the path of thespring-actuated catch when said members occupy said predeterminedposition, so as to be actuated thereby when the spring actuated catchdrops behind said shoulder.

5. In combination, a door, a door frame, said door having a shoulder, acatch on the frame arranged to drop behind said shoulder to loel: thedoor, a dog on said door for engaging with said catch to throw it out ofengagement with said shoulder, and a handle for actuating said dog.

6. In combination, a door frame, a door, a catch on the door forengaging with the frame when the door is closed, a catch on r the framearranged to drop into locking ensaid members approach said predeterminedgagement with the door when it is closed, and means associated with saidcatches for causing the catch on the frame to actuate the catch 011thedoor into locking position upon closing of the door.

7. In combination, a door, a door frame, shoulders on the door andframe, a springactuated catch. on the frame arranged to drop behind theshoulder on the door when the door is closed, a catch on the door forengaging with the shoulder on the frame when the door is closed, and adog associated with the latter catch and lying in the path of movementof the spring-actuated catch, the arrangement being such that when thedoor is closed the spring actuated cat-ch assumes its locking positionand actuates the dog so as to throw the other catch into lockingposition.

8. In combination, a door, a door frame, shoulders on the door andframe, a revoluble shaft projecting through the door and having handleson the ends thereof, a catch carried by said shaft and arranged toengage with the shoulder on the frame when the door is closed, aspring-actuated catch on said frame arranged to drop behind the shoulderon the door when the door is closed, and a dog associated with saidshaft and lying in the path of the spring-actuated catch so as to beactuated thereby so as to rotate the shaft when the spring-actuatedcatch drops behind its cooperating shoulder.

9. In combination, a door frame, a door, a plate secured to the door andhaving a boss projecting inwardly into the door, a shaft ournaled in andsupported wholly by said boss, an actuating handle on each end of saidshaft, a catch carried by said shaft, and a shoulder on the framecooperating with said catch, a spring actuated catch on said frame forengaging with a shoulder on the door, and a lug on said shaft lying inthe path of said spring-actuated catch and arranged to be actuatedthereby to rotate the shaft.

In testimony whereof, I sign this specification in the presence of twowitnesses.

THOMAS B. JEFFERY. Witnesses VVM. F. FREUDENREICH, V HARRY S. GAITHER.

